The search for a missing swimmer at Gillards Beach near Tathra will continue Friday after a fruitless search Thursday.
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Emergency services including Surf Life Saving personnel, Marine Rescue, NSW Police and Marine Area Command, SES, NSW Ambulance, Eden Water Police and National Parks were all involved in a sea and land search in Mimosa Rocks National Park.
AS IT HAPPENED: Live coverage of Thursday's search efforts
Police were first alerted to reports of the missing man, a 42-year-old Victorian, around 5.30pm Wednesday. They said he had been visiting the area with his twin brother, but had stayed at the beach for a run and a swim while his brother drove back to Tathra.
When the brother returned about 2.30pm the man was nowhere to be found, but his clothes and personal belongings remained on the beach. After the brother spent some time searching the area without success, he raised the alarm with authorities.
Emergency service conducted a thorough search right through until 10pm Wednesday night and then resumed at first light Thursday.
By 3pm Thursday, more than 24 hours after the man first went missing, the various response agencies were wrapping up their search for the day with nothing reported.
It's expected both the ground and sea search effort will resume Friday morning.
One couple who were the only people camping at the popular Gillards Beach site praised the response efforts while hoping the search would have a positive outcome.
"I think it's important to focus on the emergency services and their prompt response. Everybody is doing the best they can. They are incredible. We just hope they find him soon."
Bega Valley SES commander Michelle de Friskbom said her volunteer team members had covered a lot of ground on foot, particularly around Nelson Lake.
NSW South Coast District Inspector Peter Volf said extensive searching over water and land were being undertaken as it was unclear what the man was doing at the time.
"We know he went for a swim at some stage, but whether he went back into the water we can't establish that as he was here alone."
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